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I graduated from Caltech in 1995 and continue to be involved as an alum. The most important advice I can give to anyone interested in applying there would be to be confident in yourself, passionate about science, and determined to learn and explore new ideas. Don't go to caltech because it is the "best". Go there because it is the right place for you. Make this clear in your application. I failed some classes and even had to do summer school because I was too busy building my own optical telescope and then later a radio telescope so I could listen to lightning on Jupiter. Read "Contact" by Carl Sagan, "Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman", and tell them why these stories inspire your dreams.
I'm far enough removed from high school, so now I'm willing to share my secrets lol. Highly requested - here is me going through my Caltech application for the first time since I submitted it! This video includes my stats, essays, extracurricular activities, etc., as well as some embedded tips for applying. In reality, all the top schools, like Stanford, UC's, Ivies, are the hardest to get into (and you know what, the college application process is rough in general), and regardless of the ranking, there really isn't too much of a difference between them in difficulty. Also, I am just stating stuff on my application (almost even from an outsider's pov as you can see haha), so this is in no way intended to be arrogant or anything like that (except the title seems kind of, but hey, it's not untrue and gotta be catchy somehow amiright). Either way, I hope this is helpful and motivating! Good luck :D * Low-key - no, high-key - a pretty high-effort video, which I had fun making, so I hope you guys find it entertaining too! I got a kick out of it at least :p Thanks for watching, and check out my vlogs for more college content! :) * My sister got in too?? See how here: ua-cam.com/video/t0Lh7IWZqac/v-deo.html * Follow me! Instagram: instagram.com/wamyy5/
I'm applying to grad school and just going through vlogs of schools I'm interested in, and it's pretty interesting coming across videos about applying to undergrad, seeing people's classes and stats, etc. I graduated high school with like a middling GPA and went to community college, so I never had the experience. Anyway, it's interesting to me seeing the difference in resources between high schools. My high school didn't do dual enrollment to take college classes, didn't offer tutoring/TA opportunities, and it had maybe only 1/3 of the AP and honors classes you listed. Pretty wild to think even if I did as best as I could, I couldn't get into a school like Caltech because it would be literally impossible for me to match admission profiles with other applicants. Speaks a lot to regional inequalities and inequalities within the education system I guess. Anyway, cool vlogs!
It's by design. CalTec, Stanford and the UC system were established as elite schools. Everybody else is supposed to go to the state colleges. You're correct about admissions not taking into account one's background. Not everybody has an engineer in the family, the economic resources, good schools or even a healthy environment conducive to studying. No way there are equal chances, only meritocracy, which involves a lot of luck and personal commitment.
I think the other commenter is right, it is by design. It’s a school for smart kids who had the resources to excel. It’s worth mentioning that these kids very often went above and beyond the resources directly offered. Amy took several college courses and studied for AP tests on her own initiative. I also took multivariable through concurrent enrollment (an online program, so anyone with the preparation could get access) and self studied for AP Physics C from a book that was 20$. But yeah, most people even if they did go above and beyond, don’t have enough resources. That said, Caltech is really hard, and admissions is uncompromising on student’s backgrounds because they need to make sure they will succeed.
@@viradeus4322 Hey, way to do these math competitions! So in AMC10 and 12, make sure to be precise yet quick. This is across the board for many standardized testing, but make sure to strategize how many questions you must get right in order to qualify. This is different for 10 and 12, and keep in mind that there are penalties for missing questions too. Do many, many practice problems and try some mock exams too! Make sure to review what you did wrong each time to get closer to your goal. Learn math tricks such that you will save time and energy on problems. Good luck!
It is also depends on luck. Depends on who is reviewing your application. However, biase exists ,such as: race, gender, socioeconomic class, etc. They will never tell you the real reasons u got rejected or accepted , but one of them might be those forementioned variables. Definitely, achievements might play a big role of being accepted.
@@noneofyourbusiness8770 Hi! In that case, try to seek out the most advanced classes available and check out nearby schools that have AP or IB courses. For our school district, we were allowed to take advanced classes at other schools. Also, check out your local universities!
began with searching about turkish education system in 60s. then found the video of a famous turkish professor talking about problems of turkish education system and I searched for more videos of him talking about education, found out that he had been teaching in caltech. then I searched for caltech for a while and found this video. IT WAS SO RANDOM but nice channel lol subscribed
Hope you find this comment (since the video was posted a long time ago). Thanks for the very informative and fun video! What you have accomplished is amazing and that sounds like 0.001% of this country. I have a question regarding how soon you could start learning about advanced math classes. Geometry is the most advanced class for 8th grade in public school. The most advance one to take in 9th grade would be Algebra 2 therefore. However, I see that you took pre-Calculus in that grade. How were you able to do that? Were you going to a private school? or did you have to take an online Algebra 2 class during the summer or in 8th grade? Thanks and hope you continue being an amazing person to this world!
Hi! Thanks so much for your kind words. Each school is different, so we were allowed to take higher math courses than the ones you described in each grade. That being said, I believe there's flexibility if you talk with your counselor and demonstrate your ability to succeed in higher courses. They limit students, because they don't want students to fail or struggle too much past their abilities. As part of demonstrating your ability to take advanced classes, you can look into online courses or self-study and test out of levels so you can skip to higher levels.
Being an applicant from underdeveloped areas within China, I felt an affinity when I heard the word "Chinese". Leaving my first UA-cam's comment here, a seed I will return to harvest in March.
Hello, I was wondering your perspective amidst the whole pandemic and test scores...I am not going to be able to submit sat/act most likely due ot multiple cancellations. Any advice on to show that you have a leg up over other applicants? I have many extracurricular such as hands on experience with solid fuel rocketry and collaboration running cross country, nhs, volunteering, tutoring, etc. , and my intended major it Aero/astro engineering. I just wanted to know if that was enough?
Hi, your concern is quite valid! It is great to hear that you are so involved and seem to have experience in STEM activities specifically. It is difficult to say whether what someone does is "enough," but as a general tip, it's important to demonstrate your passion and dedication in certain areas, rather than trying to be involved a little bit in a variety. Here is information about Caltech and standardized testing: www.caltech.edu/about/news/caltech-announces-two-year-moratorium-sat-and-act-requirements#:~:text=Caltech%20has%20enacted%20a%20two,of%20the%20undergraduate%20admissions%20process.&text=In%20addition%20to%20temporarily%20halting,testing%20requirements%20for%20international%20applicants.
I want to get into caltech sooo badly, as of right now I feel that I’m most interesting in engineering and this year I’m taking all ap classes (11th grade) so I’m kinda nervous I won’t have the motivation, but the classes finally surround the things I like. I’m taking ap physics, ap calc a/b, ap computer science, ap lang and ap seminar. I’m also in the marching band. My main worry though is that no one in my school passes the ap physics test. Last year only 2 people passed because the teacher doesn’t really prepare you for it, but I know I need to do well on this test, I see that you took a lot of ap classes at once so I was wondering if you have any advice? Like on managing time and stress and staying motivated
Hi! Thanks so much for your comment. Don't worry that it's long :) I think it's a bit difficult to answer in typing to avoid a lengthy reply, but here is a short version - managing time and stress is a life-long endeavor where you can get better only by training yourself. This comes with a mindset as well. For example, it's a great first step that you enjoy the things that are making you so busy! That's a great motivator, and sometimes you need to step back and remember why you are doing all the things that are stressing you out. Stress is a state of mind, and it's not productive, because regardless of being stressed or not, you will still have to do the things you have to do and want to do to achieve your goals. Instead of getting overwhelmed, make a game plan of how you will tackle your tasks, because you know you have to and will work through it one way or another. In terms of being worried about the AP Physics test - I took AP Environmental Science my junior year and my teacher was nice but really awful. We never went over anything useful for the exam, and I knew that going into the class, so I had a game plan. On day 1, I purchased an AP prep book, and I studied and learned on my own almost every night, eventually reading that book from the cover to the back (my first time for a prep book lol). And I got a 5 when no one else did. Be confident in your abilities and take matters into your own hands! Hard work will pay off. Omg this is actually so long LOL sorry. Hope this is helpful! Thanks for watching my videos :D
Good luck on your apps, and don’t put too much stock into one school. Caltech is great but (as Amy illustrated) it’s nearly impossible to be admitted. As is pretty common at tech, my dream school was MIT and I didn’t get in.
I have a big question. I don't if I have enough achievements and academic honors to consider myself competitive for such selective colleges. I'd appreciate a lot if I could tell anyone all my experiences and academic achievements just to tell me if you think I can get admitted into those unis
Wow, those classes are insane! Im currently a sophomore in highschool , and i was wondering if you think taking those classes are necessary. I plan on taking ap and honors courses, but i think its too late to be able to get to calc 3 before college. If you see this, let me know if you have any advice, thanks:).
Hi, thanks for your comment and for watching my video! You don't necessarily have to take exactly what I took, but the point is to show that in order to have a competitive application, you would benefit from taking the most advanced STEM classes you can as early as you can while doing well in them. These show your competence in the subjects that are taken to another level at Caltech. Just push yourself to exceed your own expectations and to be the best version of yourself academically and things will work out in the end :)
haha!! I'm smarter than all of you applying to caltech. I know more math and science than all of you! However, I'm an old man now and never made it to caltech when I was 18.
Hi! I am not sure what you mean by "tackle" exactly - like how I prepare or more like how I begin to take one? But for preparation, I'd say I ensure that I am consistently absorbing class material; generally the corresponding AP classes have teachers that do a great job of preparing their students. I never had to buy my own AP prep book except in one AP course where I knew the teacher was not providing us with the necessary resources. If you don't have the best teachers, then just trust in your own capabilities to self-study through the various online resources and test-prep! I don't want this comment to be too long, but in terms of actually taking the test, I follow basic advice like sleeping well before, temporarily skipping questions I get stuck on, etc. It's helpful to maintain the mindset that, as obvious as this is, the better you prepare, the more confidently you can truly "tackle" the exams.
Some people were able to attend high school and go to CalTech, I wish I was one of those people. If I had known that in high school, I would've been the one attending that school eight years ago.
@@user12name34 you don’t get it, I wanted to go to cal tech as a student in high school but I never went there because I never knew you could take summer programs in high school. I’m about eight years too late.
@@user12name34 if you were in high school it would’ve been easier because that would be experience but it’s too late for me. Not for me to dwell on the past I’m gonna focus on the now and future.
They're not explicitly compulsory, but if you have the opportunity to take AP courses at your school, you are expected to take the relevant AP's that demonstrate your aptitude in STEM. Then you are also expected to take the exam to demonstrate your mastery of the material. As said in my video, Caltech wanted me to submit my AP exam scores even senior year after I was accepted!
Yeahh... it's been quite difficult, because Zoom just can't replace working in person with whiteboards! I discuss the challenges and some tips in the following videos: ua-cam.com/video/NWyaKbYtWAQ/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/YFvWlVUxpYc/v-deo.html Let me know if you have more questions!
@@wamyy5 Thank you! I binged the videos, both were super insightful, and for all intents and purposes a direct answer to my question. I hope you're doing better now! My friends and I set up a discord server, added a music bot and connect to VC in parallel to whatever we working on. It became a hub and enabled the small talk usually lost because of online learning. If you're still looking for ways to connect, I suggest trying this out, maybe it works for you as well!
@@jinensetpal Yay, I'm glad that your question got answered :D Also, that's a great idea; thanks for sharing! I'm glad you found innovative ways to adapt.
Haha I just graduated but I would rather slam my toe in a door than attend office hours over zoom. Collaborating online made me feel like a burden on my classmates, and I’m lucky my classes my senior year required less pleading TAs for help than did my previous courses.
So I dont know if you still respond to comments because you posted this like 4 years ago, but currently I am in 7th grade and take geometry, Honors language arts, honors science, and social studies. Now next year in 8th grade, I will be taking algebra 2, Honors language arts, honors biology, and social studies. Then 9th grade, ap pre calc, ap world history, ap physics, so am i set?
Hello, Right now in my school, I am a sophomore taking an honors algebra 2/precalc class. However, there are some sophomores in my school who are taking a higher Precalc honors class. Do you think this would affect my chances of getting into a really good school like Caltech?
Thanks for your comment. While this may not necessarily be a deciding factor, the overarching idea that you want to present in your application is that you are a significantly strong candidate who is always challenging yourself to do the toughest coursework, especially in STEM. Caltech is so competitive, because the school knows that its academics are incredibly rigorous, so you may want to look into how it suits you in relation to what you're currently doing in high school!
Are all classes AP & Honor? After graduating from caltech is there leads before and after or what's % of people that achieved career goal? In studying Astrophysics what is the fields recommended to go into?
Not sure what you mean by the first question - I took almost all honors and AP courses. In regards to those specific stats, my guess is as good as yours, so I'd recommend Google!
Hi! I'm currently going into the 10th grade, and in my freshmen year I didn't so anything outstanding or anything in STEM. I'm really bad at math but I want to give it a try and maybe do some competitions, but how do I do this? Also do I even have a chance at going to CalTech lol
Hello, in terms of math - you should start by building a strong foundation and focus on excelling in your school math courses before math competitions. You can do this by using online resources such as Khan Academy, which is super great and even fun to use. Then if you feel like you truly enjoy math and are good at it, start searching math competitions on Google and see what math club and contests your school offers. I would say that to get into Caltech, you'll really have to ramp up your STEM activities and accomplishments.
Question: if i take algebra 2 and geometry in my freshman year, and then pre calc in my sophomore year and then two years of calc would that be good enough to get into Caltech (assuming i did rly good in those classes)
Hello, I’m a current sophomore who wants to get into top colleges like Ivy Leagues and Caltech. I plan on taking Ap us history, Ap Chem,Ap Lang,Ap calc ab,Ap psych, and honors Spanish. Do you think this schedule is manageable to get all A’s in and any recommendations on what I should do?
This is like pretty close to my sophomore load (except Calc BC and AP Art History instead of AB and AP Psych) It was tough but definitely manageable. Really depends on teacher, my APUSH teacher was harsh so that was my hard class but for some schools that class is an easy A. I would suggest you get involved in as much as you can outside of school instead of just dealing with those classes. It’s tough but find something as early as you can that’s OUTSIDE of school. It shows initiative which is probably THE most important character trait to get into these schools If you try hard it should be fine!
I got a question , am from Honduras and our system is very diferent than american . i have a+ and a in all my classes but my doubt is if in adittion of the toufle (wich i have) ,there is another requirment becouse in the platform it saids that it's all but i feel a little bit insecure about what i need to apply . Good video i think u r the first person who I see that's give information that how to apply to caltech based in your experiences. I think that all your viewers thanks you for give us this time .
Hi, thanks for your comment and for watching my videos! As long as you follow the requirements in the application itself, you should be fine. You can also Google the international student application instructions, and the information should all be there. As far as additional materials that I mentioned in my video such as the AMC exam, those scores can make one more competitive for admission, but they aren't mandatory.
Amy, can you talk about sports program or Physical education (or Kinesiology), if possible talk about sports team? i thiking in apply to Phd Program ( talk too please) in some years. Thank a lot!
do you know if foreign transfer students are able to eliminate the subjects already taken at their current college? for example, I finished the basic engineering cycle at UFRJ (I'm Brazilian), could I continue where I left off? Thanks!!!
Hello, because the Caltech curriculum is quite unique in terms of how rigorous the content is, I'm not sure how much credit you can get transferred. That may be up to the Caltech office evaluating the individual classes and corresponding them to what could be considered equivalent at Caltech.
Nothing is impossible! I know it seems very difficult, and in general, college admissions are unpredictable, even if you have the most perfect stats, essays, etc., so don't worry too much. As long as you put in the right effort in the things you enjoy at the same time, you'll end up somewhere you're meant to be and can thrive in. You'll hear this a lot, but it's more about what you do, not where you do it :)
Last night I cried myself to sleep because of stress. I wish you luck and I hope you get in. It’s also my dream to go there as well and like wamyy said nothings impossible🤞
Dude help I have the money and I really wanna get into caltech but the only thing I’m at the top at right now is physics and chem, I’ve got a little bit of time since I’m in year 10 but I need this to go well, the only thing I’m bad at is math and my math teacher is insufferable and she can’t teach anything without over-complicating things, I’m taking the higher math corse next year but to be fair it really depends on the teacher but idk I’m panicking so much to the point where I can’t breathe
Hi, admissions are quite competitive for international students, so I recommend STEM activities where you can be in leadership positions, win awards, and show long-term commitment. Do whatever is available to you that is the equivalent or more impressive than activities non-international students may do. Good luck!
My dream school is CalTech but i’m not very smart i will say and my grades are average but not the best. I only took 2 AP’s and only passed 1. i’m currently doing a 2 year transfer at a community college in LA is there a ways i can improve myself and help me get into this school. Any tips would be appreciated as i about to start and after seeing all this i’m having a panic attack and having some doubts about my luck getting into this school. I want to major in Mechanical Engineering ( as i want to work in the Robotic field).
Hi, I think you should really prioritize advanced STEM work. I'm not sure what APs you took, but make sure to stack up your credentials in the science and math standardized testing. Get a math tutor if that's what you need and get involved in clubs related to mechanical engineering. Become a leader in those clubs. Through doing these things, you'll see if Caltech is right for you :)
U beed to create a portfolio in the stem field not grades that will bring out all depts of each school to u/me and that is exactly what I've done includes cambridge and oxford universities
I’m a 7th grade student in England and I want to get into cal tech I got 95% in my last science test but I’m not good at maths, when I looked at the cal tech webpage it said I need to know calculaus, I know I’m only 7th grade but pls help, I have the science preparedness but my maths really sucks😭 I got like 60 percent
Check out math tutoring! There's no shame in getting extra lessons and practice, especially if your goal is to go to somewhere like Caltech. There are also a lot of great online resources like Khan Academy where you improve your understanding.
Hello! I've recently learnt about the study opportunities that the US universities offer. Could you please share your knowledge on the financial aid systems, grants and other relevant scholarships for international students. Thank you 🌼
Hi! Thanks for watching my videos and for commenting! To the best of my personal knowledge in regards to financial aid, Caltech is need-blind in terms of admissions. Also, I've heard that Caltech is relatively generous with financial-aid packages, and this is likely consistent whether international or not. Caltech, like other top institutions, does not provide merit scholarships/grants. Hope this helps. Good luck with everything :)
Hello, I Am applying for caltech. However, i dont think i have time to get a 5 on my AP seminar, since im focusing On AP Physics, Stats, Chemistry, And Calculus. Will that still be enough for me to have a chance? I want to have a major in Astrophysics, and i think caltech is the perfect institute for that study. I will try to score a 1500 on my SAT.
Hi, what is AP seminar? Focus on getting all the 5s you can! Yes, Caltech is amazing for astrophysics. Try the ACT and SAT to give yourself more chances!
Try to see if you can advance and skip math classes by taking summer courses. Additionally, there are many online courses that you can take during the schoolyear on the side, and maybe your school will let you take an exam to pass out of the easier math classes. Then you can get to advanced math sooner, which is definitely important if you're considering a school like Caltech!
@@wamyy5 I have a question, if you love math why did you study ChemEn? I don't have a problem with that, but I find it curious that you didn't choose math as your Major?
Challenge yourself in any way you can! Even if you don't have the same offerings, see what the toughest courses are, and take them or even higher levels. See if you can take courses from nearby colleges. Basically, you just want to set yourself apart from your peers and demonstrate that you have a true passion for STEM. Caltech wants to know that you can succeed at the institution and that your interest extends beyond the average person's such that you won't burn out in the rigorous curriculum.
@@wamyy5 I have good news. I am offered by my father that I can take college classes if I get around a 95 and above. I am wanting to take python courses, and if I take them now at my age, it will look good. I think I'll take as many of those as I can. Thanks!
Hi! If your country has advanced classes that might be equivalent, try taking those. It doesn't have to be AP specifically, but show under your circumstances how you excel in STEM and among your peers.
Hi, I'd say that unless this one extracurricular is very, very substantial and impactful while relating to STEM, then it is not enough. The application gives space to list several extracurriculars, so the expectation seems to be that students are involved in a variety.
Haha that’s an interesting comment! We rarely play video games, and when we do, it’s more of a social event that we do with each other and we limit the amount of time we play at one time.
The rankings vary on different websites, but you can't go wrong with either one. Both Caltech and MIT are two of the best in aerospace engineering in the world. Just keep in mind that Caltech has the JPL connection and its site nearby!
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I graduated from Caltech in 1995 and continue to be involved as an alum. The most important advice I can give to anyone interested in applying there would be to be confident in yourself, passionate about science, and determined to learn and explore new ideas. Don't go to caltech because it is the "best". Go there because it is the right place for you. Make this clear in your application. I failed some classes and even had to do summer school because I was too busy building my own optical telescope and then later a radio telescope so I could listen to lightning on Jupiter. Read "Contact" by Carl Sagan, "Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman", and tell them why these stories inspire your dreams.
Wow, inspiring story. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks a lot, this advice is really helpful
right advice on caltech -- thanks for sharing.
@@wamyy5you’re very pretty I love your haircut
Looool just realized that I have NO chance at getting into Caltech ;)
you can do it man ima go for it
Don’t worry about it too much. Most colleges look at personality also so make sure your essays tell a lot about your personality and your passions.
@@brooklynhamler4826 didn't they remove the optional essay for SAT and the ACT exam
@@priyadarshiashokgautam2455 I honestly have no idea.
@@brooklynhamler4826 only if you’re a minority
Omg your stats are unbelievable!! Thank you so much for making this video!!!
Thanks so much for watching my videos :) I am glad they are helpful. Hope you have fun, and good luck!!
Teachers: don’t worry about the test, it’ll be fine
The test:
I'm far enough removed from high school, so now I'm willing to share my secrets lol. Highly requested - here is me going through my Caltech application for the first time since I submitted it! This video includes my stats, essays, extracurricular activities, etc., as well as some embedded tips for applying. In reality, all the top schools, like Stanford, UC's, Ivies, are the hardest to get into (and you know what, the college application process is rough in general), and regardless of the ranking, there really isn't too much of a difference between them in difficulty. Also, I am just stating stuff on my application (almost even from an outsider's pov as you can see haha), so this is in no way intended to be arrogant or anything like that (except the title seems kind of, but hey, it's not untrue and gotta be catchy somehow amiright). Either way, I hope this is helpful and motivating! Good luck :D
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Low-key - no, high-key - a pretty high-effort video, which I had fun making, so I hope you guys find it entertaining too! I got a kick out of it at least :p Thanks for watching, and check out my vlogs for more college content! :)
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My sister got in too??
See how here: ua-cam.com/video/t0Lh7IWZqac/v-deo.html
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Follow me!
Instagram: instagram.com/wamyy5/
I'm applying to grad school and just going through vlogs of schools I'm interested in, and it's pretty interesting coming across videos about applying to undergrad, seeing people's classes and stats, etc. I graduated high school with like a middling GPA and went to community college, so I never had the experience. Anyway, it's interesting to me seeing the difference in resources between high schools. My high school didn't do dual enrollment to take college classes, didn't offer tutoring/TA opportunities, and it had maybe only 1/3 of the AP and honors classes you listed. Pretty wild to think even if I did as best as I could, I couldn't get into a school like Caltech because it would be literally impossible for me to match admission profiles with other applicants. Speaks a lot to regional inequalities and inequalities within the education system I guess. Anyway, cool vlogs!
It's by design. CalTec, Stanford and the UC system were established as elite schools. Everybody else is supposed to go to the state colleges. You're correct about admissions not taking into account one's background. Not everybody has an engineer in the family, the economic resources, good schools or even a healthy environment conducive to studying. No way there are equal chances, only meritocracy, which involves a lot of luck and personal commitment.
I think the other commenter is right, it is by design. It’s a school for smart kids who had the resources to excel. It’s worth mentioning that these kids very often went above and beyond the resources directly offered. Amy took several college courses and studied for AP tests on her own initiative. I also took multivariable through concurrent enrollment (an online program, so anyone with the preparation could get access) and self studied for AP Physics C from a book that was 20$. But yeah, most people even if they did go above and beyond, don’t have enough resources. That said, Caltech is really hard, and admissions is uncompromising on student’s backgrounds because they need to make sure they will succeed.
@@heathjohn62 Love this response, John. Thanks so much for sharing these important points!
f your school doesn't offer many APs, the AOs wont hold it against you for not taking so many
Currently taking algebra 1, geometry, and algebra 2 over the summer. Thanks for helping me grind now...
Finalky a video about caltech, as a caltech student, its refreshing to see a video about us
Yay! I'm glad; I feel the same way haha - not much content about us :'(
@insanity ... You can.
@@wamyy5 hey can u give me any tips on making AIME
@@viradeus4322 Hey, way to do these math competitions! So in AMC10 and 12, make sure to be precise yet quick. This is across the board for many standardized testing, but make sure to strategize how many questions you must get right in order to qualify. This is different for 10 and 12, and keep in mind that there are penalties for missing questions too. Do many, many practice problems and try some mock exams too! Make sure to review what you did wrong each time to get closer to your goal. Learn math tricks such that you will save time and energy on problems. Good luck!
i'm from the UK. I have no idea what shes talking about! But I'm here
This is really sweet. Thanks for being a voice from this tiny school.
Hey John! It's wonderful to hear from you. Thank you very much; I appreciate you taking the time to leave me this nice comment :)
got into Caltech! stats are nowhere near good as yours, but my EC and essays definitely helped.
WOW big congrats!! I hope my videos were helpful for the process :D
@@wamyy5 There were! and definitely will be in the coming months.
Would you mind sharing some of your ECs?
It is also depends on luck. Depends on who is reviewing your application. However, biase exists ,such as: race, gender, socioeconomic class, etc. They will never tell you the real reasons u got rejected or accepted , but one of them might be those forementioned variables. Definitely, achievements might play a big role of being accepted.
I give up. I'm too dumb to even apply to caltech 😳
Don't give up! You never know what could happen! Also, admissions don't define your qualifications, so don't stress too much about it :)
I swear you rock this hairstyle!!
Haha thanks so much! :D
I got into Caltech just now. The decision made my day.
Wow CONGRATS!! So happy for you and your future :)
How many international students study at Caltech, and which achievements there are have?
About 29% of all undergrads are international students. I assume their achievements do not differ too much from those of non-international students!
@@wamyy5 29%?? That's really high. MIT and Stanford have like 12% international
@@noneofyourbusiness8770 Hi! In that case, try to seek out the most advanced classes available and check out nearby schools that have AP or IB courses. For our school district, we were allowed to take advanced classes at other schools. Also, check out your local universities!
began with searching about turkish education system in 60s. then found the video of a famous turkish professor talking about problems of turkish education system and I searched for more videos of him talking about education, found out that he had been teaching in caltech. then I searched for caltech for a while and found this video. IT WAS SO RANDOM but nice channel lol subscribed
Hahaha interesting source of traffic. Thanks for subbing! :)
I am the victim of turkish education system unfortunately :/
@@millieross5176 nowadays (especially in quarantine) we got a aphorism: "Geography is destiny" 🚬
thank you Amy, after watching your video i encourage my daughter to apply, she just received the acceptance
Wow CONGRATS! Best of luck to her - that’s amazing!
Hope you find this comment (since the video was posted a long time ago). Thanks for the very informative and fun video! What you have accomplished is amazing and that sounds like 0.001% of this country. I have a question regarding how soon you could start learning about advanced math classes. Geometry is the most advanced class for 8th grade in public school. The most advance one to take in 9th grade would be Algebra 2 therefore. However, I see that you took pre-Calculus in that grade. How were you able to do that? Were you going to a private school? or did you have to take an online Algebra 2 class during the summer or in 8th grade? Thanks and hope you continue being an amazing person to this world!
Hi! Thanks so much for your kind words. Each school is different, so we were allowed to take higher math courses than the ones you described in each grade. That being said, I believe there's flexibility if you talk with your counselor and demonstrate your ability to succeed in higher courses. They limit students, because they don't want students to fail or struggle too much past their abilities. As part of demonstrating your ability to take advanced classes, you can look into online courses or self-study and test out of levels so you can skip to higher levels.
@@wamyy5 thanks for the reply!
Being an applicant from underdeveloped areas within China, I felt an affinity when I heard the word "Chinese". Leaving my first UA-cam's comment here, a seed I will return to harvest in March.
Wishing you the best of luck in the application process :D
that is quality math classes. vector calc, linear algebra and number theory. programming languages and math competitions. all before starting college.
Hello, I was wondering your perspective amidst the whole pandemic and test scores...I am not going to be able to submit sat/act most likely due ot multiple cancellations. Any advice on to show that you have a leg up over other applicants? I have many extracurricular such as hands on experience with solid fuel rocketry and collaboration running cross country, nhs, volunteering, tutoring, etc. , and my intended major it Aero/astro engineering. I just wanted to know if that was enough?
Hi, your concern is quite valid! It is great to hear that you are so involved and seem to have experience in STEM activities specifically. It is difficult to say whether what someone does is "enough," but as a general tip, it's important to demonstrate your passion and dedication in certain areas, rather than trying to be involved a little bit in a variety. Here is information about Caltech and standardized testing: www.caltech.edu/about/news/caltech-announces-two-year-moratorium-sat-and-act-requirements#:~:text=Caltech%20has%20enacted%20a%20two,of%20the%20undergraduate%20admissions%20process.&text=In%20addition%20to%20temporarily%20halting,testing%20requirements%20for%20international%20applicants.
I want to get into caltech sooo badly, as of right now I feel that I’m most interesting in engineering and this year I’m taking all ap classes (11th grade) so I’m kinda nervous I won’t have the motivation, but the classes finally surround the things I like. I’m taking ap physics, ap calc a/b, ap computer science, ap lang and ap seminar. I’m also in the marching band. My main worry though is that no one in my school passes the ap physics test. Last year only 2 people passed because the teacher doesn’t really prepare you for it, but I know I need to do well on this test, I see that you took a lot of ap classes at once so I was wondering if you have any advice? Like on managing time and stress and staying motivated
sorry this is kinda long 😬
Hi! Thanks so much for your comment. Don't worry that it's long :) I think it's a bit difficult to answer in typing to avoid a lengthy reply, but here is a short version - managing time and stress is a life-long endeavor where you can get better only by training yourself. This comes with a mindset as well. For example, it's a great first step that you enjoy the things that are making you so busy! That's a great motivator, and sometimes you need to step back and remember why you are doing all the things that are stressing you out. Stress is a state of mind, and it's not productive, because regardless of being stressed or not, you will still have to do the things you have to do and want to do to achieve your goals. Instead of getting overwhelmed, make a game plan of how you will tackle your tasks, because you know you have to and will work through it one way or another. In terms of being worried about the AP Physics test - I took AP Environmental Science my junior year and my teacher was nice but really awful. We never went over anything useful for the exam, and I knew that going into the class, so I had a game plan. On day 1, I purchased an AP prep book, and I studied and learned on my own almost every night, eventually reading that book from the cover to the back (my first time for a prep book lol). And I got a 5 when no one else did. Be confident in your abilities and take matters into your own hands! Hard work will pay off. Omg this is actually so long LOL sorry. Hope this is helpful! Thanks for watching my videos :D
Good luck on your apps, and don’t put too much stock into one school. Caltech is great but (as Amy illustrated) it’s nearly impossible to be admitted. As is pretty common at tech, my dream school was MIT and I didn’t get in.
how did it go?
You're the smartest person on UA-cam.
Ha nahhh but that would be so cool! Thanks though :)
I have a big question. I don't if I have enough achievements and academic honors to consider myself competitive for such selective colleges. I'd appreciate a lot if I could tell anyone all my experiences and academic achievements just to tell me if you think I can get admitted into those unis
Wow, those classes are insane! Im currently a sophomore in highschool , and i was wondering if you think taking those classes are necessary. I plan on taking ap and honors courses, but i think its too late to be able to get to calc 3 before college. If you see this, let me know if you have any advice, thanks:).
Hi, thanks for your comment and for watching my video! You don't necessarily have to take exactly what I took, but the point is to show that in order to have a competitive application, you would benefit from taking the most advanced STEM classes you can as early as you can while doing well in them. These show your competence in the subjects that are taken to another level at Caltech. Just push yourself to exceed your own expectations and to be the best version of yourself academically and things will work out in the end :)
If you still need advice, I’m doing a college consultation giveaway - details in the Community page of my YT channel!
I thank the universe for no SAT/ACT because for the weeks I studied I only got a 1200
FINALLY.. I found a student at one of my dream collages without Full stats,I was almost demovated..thank for this.😀😀
Yes, u def don’t need full stats! Plenty of people with full stats get rejected too. Good luck :)
@@wamyy5 😅😅😇😇😁😁
wowowow, beauty and brains
Awww, such a sweet comment. Thanks so much for watching XD
I don't even know I'm watching this video, I just got rejected :(
haha!! I'm smarter than all of you applying to caltech. I know more math and science than all of you! However, I'm an old man now and never made it to caltech when I was 18.
wow your so cool for knowing more science and math than teenagers woahhhh crazyyyyy
How do you tackle your AP exams?
Hi! I am not sure what you mean by "tackle" exactly - like how I prepare or more like how I begin to take one? But for preparation, I'd say I ensure that I am consistently absorbing class material; generally the corresponding AP classes have teachers that do a great job of preparing their students. I never had to buy my own AP prep book except in one AP course where I knew the teacher was not providing us with the necessary resources. If you don't have the best teachers, then just trust in your own capabilities to self-study through the various online resources and test-prep! I don't want this comment to be too long, but in terms of actually taking the test, I follow basic advice like sleeping well before, temporarily skipping questions I get stuck on, etc. It's helpful to maintain the mindset that, as obvious as this is, the better you prepare, the more confidently you can truly "tackle" the exams.
Some people were able to attend high school and go to CalTech, I wish I was one of those people. If I had known that in high school, I would've been the one attending that school eight years ago.
So you did or didn’t
@@user12name34 you don’t get it, I wanted to go to cal tech as a student in high school but I never went there because I never knew you could take summer programs in high school. I’m about eight years too late.
@@DelimiterFrameworks Oh I see you meant at the same time
@@user12name34 if you were in high school it would’ve been easier because that would be experience but it’s too late for me. Not for me to dwell on the past I’m gonna focus on the now and future.
Do AP exams play any role in admission process at Caltech? Are AP exams are compulsory to get into Caltech?
They're not explicitly compulsory, but if you have the opportunity to take AP courses at your school, you are expected to take the relevant AP's that demonstrate your aptitude in STEM. Then you are also expected to take the exam to demonstrate your mastery of the material. As said in my video, Caltech wanted me to submit my AP exam scores even senior year after I was accepted!
Know some PhD’s from cal tech but no undergrads till now
Honored to be the first!
This High School has all the AP Classes. I hope my high school has them one day.
I went to a school without APs. I am a Caltech undergrad. They just wanted to see if I was taking all the hard/advanced/etc classes available to me.
@@Cellocwllocjsi Thanks for sharing that, Ruby :)
Caltech relies a lot on collaboration - how has moving online due to the pandemic affected that collaborative aspect of your experience at Caltech?
Yeahh... it's been quite difficult, because Zoom just can't replace working in person with whiteboards! I discuss the challenges and some tips in the following videos:
ua-cam.com/video/NWyaKbYtWAQ/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/YFvWlVUxpYc/v-deo.html
Let me know if you have more questions!
@@wamyy5 Thank you! I binged the videos, both were super insightful, and for all intents and purposes a direct answer to my question. I hope you're doing better now!
My friends and I set up a discord server, added a music bot and connect to VC in parallel to whatever we working on. It became a hub and enabled the small talk usually lost because of online learning. If you're still looking for ways to connect, I suggest trying this out, maybe it works for you as well!
@@jinensetpal Yay, I'm glad that your question got answered :D Also, that's a great idea; thanks for sharing! I'm glad you found innovative ways to adapt.
Haha I just graduated but I would rather slam my toe in a door than attend office hours over zoom. Collaborating online made me feel like a burden on my classmates, and I’m lucky my classes my senior year required less pleading TAs for help than did my previous courses.
So I dont know if you still respond to comments because you posted this like 4 years ago, but currently I am in 7th grade and take geometry, Honors language arts, honors science, and social studies. Now next year in 8th grade, I will be taking algebra 2, Honors language arts, honors biology, and social studies. Then 9th grade, ap pre calc, ap world history, ap physics, so am i set?
Hello,
Right now in my school, I am a sophomore taking an honors algebra 2/precalc class. However, there are some sophomores in my school who are taking a higher Precalc honors class. Do you think this would affect my chances of getting into a really good school like Caltech?
Thanks for your comment. While this may not necessarily be a deciding factor, the overarching idea that you want to present in your application is that you are a significantly strong candidate who is always challenging yourself to do the toughest coursework, especially in STEM. Caltech is so competitive, because the school knows that its academics are incredibly rigorous, so you may want to look into how it suits you in relation to what you're currently doing in high school!
I'm also a promys kid and I'm going to apply rea caltech very sooooon😭I hope I can also be accepted too!
Im only in Grade 11 and looking at this scares me even though I want to major in Astrophysics in caltech
You can do it if you put in enough effective time and effort!
Are all classes AP & Honor? After graduating from caltech is there leads before and after or what's % of people that achieved career goal? In studying Astrophysics what is the fields recommended to go into?
Not sure what you mean by the first question - I took almost all honors and AP courses. In regards to those specific stats, my guess is as good as yours, so I'd recommend Google!
Did you apply to any other schools / if you didn't get into Caltech, what would have been your second choice school?
Stanford if I had the choice lol :p
Hi! I'm currently going into the 10th grade, and in my freshmen year I didn't so anything outstanding or anything in STEM. I'm really bad at math but I want to give it a try and maybe do some competitions, but how do I do this? Also do I even have a chance at going to CalTech lol
Hello, in terms of math - you should start by building a strong foundation and focus on excelling in your school math courses before math competitions. You can do this by using online resources such as Khan Academy, which is super great and even fun to use. Then if you feel like you truly enjoy math and are good at it, start searching math competitions on Google and see what math club and contests your school offers. I would say that to get into Caltech, you'll really have to ramp up your STEM activities and accomplishments.
What to do if your school doesn't provide AP classes? Is it necessary to take AP classes?
So I am not going there😩
how much are you going to make annually and is that amount worth giving up childhood and life?!
By subject tests
Do you mean Sat subject tests
Yes, I took the Math 2 and Chemistry SAT subject tests.
Question: if i take algebra 2 and geometry in my freshman year, and then pre calc in my sophomore year and then two years of calc would that be good enough to get into Caltech (assuming i did rly good in those classes)
Hello, I’m a current sophomore who wants to get into top colleges like Ivy Leagues and Caltech. I plan on taking Ap us history, Ap Chem,Ap Lang,Ap calc ab,Ap psych, and honors Spanish. Do you think this schedule is manageable to get all A’s in and any recommendations on what I should do?
This is like pretty close to my sophomore load (except Calc BC and AP Art History instead of AB and AP Psych)
It was tough but definitely manageable. Really depends on teacher, my APUSH teacher was harsh so that was my hard class but for some schools that class is an easy A.
I would suggest you get involved in as much as you can outside of school instead of just dealing with those classes. It’s tough but find something as early as you can that’s OUTSIDE of school. It shows initiative which is probably THE most important character trait to get into these schools
If you try hard it should be fine!
I got a question , am from Honduras and our system is very diferent than american . i have a+ and a in all my classes but my doubt is if in adittion of the toufle (wich i have) ,there is another requirment becouse in the platform it saids that it's all but i feel a little bit insecure about what i need to apply . Good video i think u r the first person who I see that's give information that how to apply to caltech based in your experiences. I think that all your viewers thanks you for give us this time .
Hi, thanks for your comment and for watching my videos! As long as you follow the requirements in the application itself, you should be fine. You can also Google the international student application instructions, and the information should all be there. As far as additional materials that I mentioned in my video such as the AMC exam, those scores can make one more competitive for admission, but they aren't mandatory.
wow! nice! so win every fucking math competition in the existance of humanity and you're chillin. Makes sense.
Do I need to have mastered Calculus 3 to have a better chance?
It will certainly help!
Amy, can you talk about sports program or Physical education (or Kinesiology), if possible talk about sports team? i thiking in apply to Phd Program ( talk too please) in some years. Thank a lot!
Hi! I’m not quite sure what you mean. I was on the basketball team and it was a great experience if that’s what you’re asking about!
do you know if foreign transfer students are able to eliminate the subjects already taken at their current college? for example, I finished the basic engineering cycle at UFRJ (I'm Brazilian), could I continue where I left off? Thanks!!!
Hello, because the Caltech curriculum is quite unique in terms of how rigorous the content is, I'm not sure how much credit you can get transferred. That may be up to the Caltech office evaluating the individual classes and corresponding them to what could be considered equivalent at Caltech.
Wow amazing! I am graduating with my bachelors degree in Chemistry from Brown University. I'm starting Dental School in the fall 2023 :)
Very impressive
I'm happy for you wish you the best on your journey for dental school
Caltech is my dream university. I'm sad that something like this looks so freaking impossible.
Nothing is impossible! I know it seems very difficult, and in general, college admissions are unpredictable, even if you have the most perfect stats, essays, etc., so don't worry too much. As long as you put in the right effort in the things you enjoy at the same time, you'll end up somewhere you're meant to be and can thrive in. You'll hear this a lot, but it's more about what you do, not where you do it :)
Last night I cried myself to sleep because of stress. I wish you luck and I hope you get in. It’s also my dream to go there as well and like wamyy said nothings impossible🤞
You just killed any of the hope left. :(
Cool to know you’re from Colorado as well!
Whooooo! Mike high city 🔥
Hello! May I know if you applied as an international student (or did you have a US citizenship)
Not applying to Caltech bc i lowkey hate it but I'm still so ridiculously screwed and cooked
Dude help I have the money and I really wanna get into caltech but the only thing I’m at the top at right now is physics and chem, I’ve got a little bit of time since I’m in year 10 but I need this to go well, the only thing I’m bad at is math and my math teacher is insufferable and she can’t teach anything without over-complicating things, I’m taking the higher math corse next year but to be fair it really depends on the teacher but idk I’m panicking so much to the point where I can’t breathe
u got all A+s i done already messed up
its prolly only depends on personal information, SAT score, and LUCK
Hi
As an international student are there STEM activities you can do to increase your chances ?
Hi, admissions are quite competitive for international students, so I recommend STEM activities where you can be in leadership positions, win awards, and show long-term commitment. Do whatever is available to you that is the equivalent or more impressive than activities non-international students may do. Good luck!
My dream school is CalTech but i’m not very smart i will say and my grades are average but not the best. I only took 2 AP’s and only passed 1. i’m currently doing a 2 year transfer at a community college in LA is there a ways i can improve myself and help me get into this school. Any tips would be appreciated as i about to start and after seeing all this i’m having a panic attack and having some doubts about my luck getting into this school. I want to major in Mechanical Engineering ( as i want to work in the Robotic field).
Hi, I think you should really prioritize advanced STEM work. I'm not sure what APs you took, but make sure to stack up your credentials in the science and math standardized testing. Get a math tutor if that's what you need and get involved in clubs related to mechanical engineering. Become a leader in those clubs. Through doing these things, you'll see if Caltech is right for you :)
@@wamyy5 okay thank you
U beed to create a portfolio in the stem field not grades that will bring out all depts of each school to u/me and that is exactly what I've done includes cambridge and oxford universities
Tips on how to get a high GPA here! ~ ua-cam.com/video/Og2a8IWdL9g/v-deo.html
I’m a 7th grade student in England and I want to get into cal tech
I got 95% in my last science test but I’m not good at maths, when I looked at the cal tech webpage it said I need to know calculaus, I know I’m only 7th grade but pls help, I have the science preparedness but my maths really sucks😭 I got like 60 percent
Check out math tutoring! There's no shame in getting extra lessons and practice, especially if your goal is to go to somewhere like Caltech. There are also a lot of great online resources like Khan Academy where you improve your understanding.
were you home schooled at first or how did you get into pre calc as a freshman??
Nope! Not homeschooled. My school had the option, but if u talk to ur counselor, I bet u can work something out :)
Hello!
I've recently learnt about the study opportunities that the US universities offer. Could you please share your knowledge on the financial aid systems, grants and other relevant scholarships for international students.
Thank you 🌼
Hi! Thanks for watching my videos and for commenting! To the best of my personal knowledge in regards to financial aid, Caltech is need-blind in terms of admissions. Also, I've heard that Caltech is relatively generous with financial-aid packages, and this is likely consistent whether international or not. Caltech, like other top institutions, does not provide merit scholarships/grants. Hope this helps. Good luck with everything :)
how come mit doesn't ask for amc or aime scores?
Cuz Caltech isn't as cool as MIT :p
Hello, I Am applying for caltech. However, i dont think i have time to get a 5 on my AP seminar, since im focusing On AP Physics, Stats, Chemistry, And Calculus. Will that still be enough for me to have a chance? I want to have a major in Astrophysics, and i think caltech is the perfect institute for that study. I will try to score a 1500 on my SAT.
Hi, what is AP seminar? Focus on getting all the 5s you can! Yes, Caltech is amazing for astrophysics. Try the ACT and SAT to give yourself more chances!
@@wamyy5 AP Seminar basically focuses on Writing Essays and research. Also, thanks for the advice.
Just curious, is it really need to be rich as well not just intelligent to be in Cal Tech?
Nope cuz I’m definitely not rich 🥲
Caltech is a great school. But, there are other great schools...
you are taking cal BC second year but i am only taking alg 2 what can i do
Try to see if you can advance and skip math classes by taking summer courses. Additionally, there are many online courses that you can take during the schoolyear on the side, and maybe your school will let you take an exam to pass out of the easier math classes. Then you can get to advanced math sooner, which is definitely important if you're considering a school like Caltech!
I am currently in 9th grade and i consider myself doing pretty bad and idk what good colleges i can get into
Wow 👏 😮 👏 😮 👏 😮 👏
CalTech is super easy to get into. I should know. That's why I never even tried.
God 3 minutes
Wth? Why makes you think that
What major did you apply to? You seem to be flawless math, so I hope it's something that involves math lol
I did chemical engineering! And thanks :)
@@wamyy5 I have a question, if you love math why did you study ChemEn? I don't have a problem with that, but I find it curious that you didn't choose math as your Major?
Brings back memories :')
Haha yeah, especially the vlogs too :') hope you're doing well, Dennis!
What do I do??? My school doesn't offer AP classes??
Challenge yourself in any way you can! Even if you don't have the same offerings, see what the toughest courses are, and take them or even higher levels. See if you can take courses from nearby colleges. Basically, you just want to set yourself apart from your peers and demonstrate that you have a true passion for STEM. Caltech wants to know that you can succeed at the institution and that your interest extends beyond the average person's such that you won't burn out in the rigorous curriculum.
@@wamyy5 I have good news. I am offered by my father that I can take college classes if I get around a 95 and above. I am wanting to take python courses, and if I take them now at my age, it will look good. I think I'll take as many of those as I can. Thanks!
@@evengraintech1397 Yay, way to take the initiative! Good luck :)
you are so beautiful!
in addition ,you are a genius!
Our country does not have ap courses
So what should i do?
Ease reply
Hi! If your country has advanced classes that might be equivalent, try taking those. It doesn't have to be AP specifically, but show under your circumstances how you excel in STEM and among your peers.
At which age u enter in California Institute of Technology ??
I matriculated when 18!
I think this is a video of her flexing :C I'm low-key concerned with the "survive", but its my dream college so good luck :)
Do you think 1 extracurricular is enough for Caltech?
Hi, I'd say that unless this one extracurricular is very, very substantial and impactful while relating to STEM, then it is not enough. The application gives space to list several extracurriculars, so the expectation seems to be that students are involved in a variety.
It's Bronze Metal bruh. Medal is metal and metal is medal. Quite original!
MY MISSION FOO
Just got into caltech!!
Whooo!!! Congrats!!
Calculus 3 in Junior year? Jeez man.
this aged well
I shoulda applied to PROMYS rip
Oh wow sabes español?
Sí, sé un poco de español :)
我有一篇文书，不知道能否请你看一下。谢谢。就是关于3个 activities 120 words.
I'm happy to be rejected. Finally off of my mind
Brilliant vid
I notice you girls never talk about video games maybe one reason it helped you excel. Do you play any video games?
Haha that’s an interesting comment! We rarely play video games, and when we do, it’s more of a social event that we do with each other and we limit the amount of time we play at one time.
What’s your IQ?
Which is best for aerospace engineering Caltech or MIT? Please answer 😕
The rankings vary on different websites, but you can't go wrong with either one. Both Caltech and MIT are two of the best in aerospace engineering in the world. Just keep in mind that Caltech has the JPL connection and its site nearby!
@@wamyy5 what is jpl connection
@@cherlyblossom2186 www.caltech.edu/research/jpl
Thanks!